Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Project to improve tourism facilities

T. Nandakumar

Phase 1 to be taken up by February

Thiruvananthapuram: The city corporation is working on a major project to improve tourism infrastructure in the capital region.

Prepared in technical collaboration with the Kerala Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation (KITCO), the Rs. 197-crore project seeks to address the lack of basic facilities and improve connectivity to important tourist destinations.

The first phase of the project, estimated at Rs. 62.6 crore, was cleared by the corporation council in December. It is scheduled to be submitted to the Union Government for assistance under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). This phase is expected to be taken up by February and the second phase by April.

According to the City Development Plan (CDP) prepared by the corporation, poor accessibility to Poovar, Akkulam, Neyyar dam and Ponmudi and the unplanned growth of Kovalam and Shanghumughom are major hurdles to the development of the tourism potential in the district. The lack of sufficient accommodation and convention and recreation facilities and absence of solid- and liquid-waste management at major destinations have been identified as issues which need to be tackled on a priority basis.

A sum of Rs. 5 crore is to be spent on the development of helicopter/ seaplane terminals at Kovalam and Akkulam. The plan outlines the need to take up the development of the Kovalam-Poovar road and Akkulam Road and improve connectivity to satellite centres such as Ponmudi, Neyyar dam and Aruvikkara.

A water supply and sewerage scheme for Kovalam, water conservation projects at various centres, improvement of roads, walkways and junctions and environmental regeneration of the Akkulam-Veli backwaters are some of the other proposals.

Beach development

The CDP document features a string of projects to develop support infrastructure at the international beach resort Kovalam.

These include a tourist facilitation and entertainment complex, beautification and landscaping of the waterfront and development of nearby beaches to disperse tourism activities.

Restoration of the Parvathi Puthanar canal from Akkulam to Kovalam and opening up the waterbody for navigation, introduction of river cruise on the Karamana river and development of the Veli tourist centre with shopping malls, conference facilities and landscaping are some of the major proposals outlined in the CDP.

The Akkulam tourist village and surrounding areas are to be developed at a cost of Rs. 15 crore, while Rs. 10 crore is to be spent on setting up an arts and crafts village.

An outlay of Rs. 5 crore has been proposed for development of tourist facilitation complexes at Vizhinjam and Kochuveli.

Lighting of tourist destinations is expected to need Rs. 10 crore.

Exhibition centres will be constructed at Suryakanthi Utsavanagari at a cost of Rs. 10 crore.

A facelift programme will be taken up for important public buildings abutting major road corridors.

The project component is estimated to cost Rs. 5 crore.

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